Hostess Gifts — Stock Up So You’re Ready For The Holidays

The holidays are almost here and that means a lot of parties and gatherings. Most people bring a bottle of wine, but I always try to bring something extra special for the host/hostess. Knowing how much work it takes to put on a dinner party or social gathering, I try to surprise and delight with an appropriate gift.

Heading into the holidays, I like to stock up my Secret Gift Closet with some of my favorites so I’m never caught off guard. And when your closet is stocked, it’s like a stress free store right in your home! Here are my recent favorites and go-to hostess gifts.

Holiday Candles by R. Nichols

Starting at $38

I just love the modern whimsy of R. Nichols designs and now he has created some pretty cool holiday candles that you should really check out!

5-Piece Monogram Cheese Board (8″) by Cathy’s Concepts

$48

Something monogrammed says “extra thoughtful” since it was selected specifically for the recipient. The personalization is a nice touch and I love the surprise of the 4 tools hidden within this cutting board. It’s perfect for parties or picnics, thanks to built-in storage for the accompanying cheese knife, shaver, fork and spreader.

Toilet Spray by Poo-Pourri

Starting at $8.69 – 2 oz. bottle

This is one of those gifts you didn’t know you truly needed in your household. Just spray Poo-Pourri into the toilet before you go to help eliminate odors and leave behind a fresh scent. This is a must for parties or any bathrooms that get a lot of use!! Trust me, you will be thanking me and this is a fun, unique and useful host/hostess gift!

Still not sure how it works? Here’s the first video that went viral that helps tell the story.

Luci Lights 2.0 by MPowered

$19.95

These inflatable lights are a favorite, with their clever, solar-power design. The lights work up to 18 hours when fully charged and have countless uses: camping, hiking, tailgating, outdoor and patio decor for entertaining, power outages, and to keep in the car. Kids and adults are fascinated by these functional, fun lights that are also waterproof and will float! Plus, the company donates their lights to underprivileged communities across the globe that do not have access to electricity. It is a cool concept to think that Luci Lights can be found in far-reaching areas around the world.

Conversation starter card game by VERTELLIS

$19.99

Whether you are going to a dinner party or reunion, this is a game everyone will want to play. We even took it with us on vacation with several other couples and it really helped us get to know each other better. After an evening filled with deep conversations and trivial anecdotes, we all commented on how much fun we had. This is a card game that will get used time and time again.

Organic Lotion & Shower Gel by Avalon

Starting at $7.99 – 12 oz. size

I like to give luxurious, organic body lotion & shower gel sets. These are the types of gifts that most people don’t splurge on for themselves and they appreciated them even more when they’re a healthy alternative that also works well.

Avalon is my new favorite set. It helps heal dry skin, it goes on smoothly and absorbs nicely into the skin (not greasy and doesn’t leave a residue). The shower gel is soothing and gentle on your skin as well. This brand uses only organic, vegan ingredients and their products do NOT contain: GMOs, parabens, sulfates or preservatives. I’d recommend the larger size because it comes with the pump.

Welcome to Secret Gift Closet

In our home I have a special closet with secret gifts inside. Some are ‘tried and true’ that I have on hand for hostess gifts, sudden birthday parties and thank you gifts. Others are hand-picked for a friend or relative waiting for an upcoming event or holiday.

The idea for this site came to me because every year before the holidays a few of my close friends would reach out and ask for gift ideas for their Dad, their teenage cousin or even a business colleague. Every time I would get a request like this, I dropped everything and started searching for ideas. Doing that kind of deep-dive research is what I live for.

Secret Gift Closet is about sharing my favorite gift ideas from one girlfriend to another. Over the years I consider it an honor to share my discoveries with my best friends. . . and now you!

And, of course, if you have your own go-to favorites, I hope you will share them here, too.

I truly believe the best gifts are the gifts of time and memories we make together. I just don’t like to show up empty handed.